Author: Andy Williams

Volkswagen subsidiary Elli will launch a pilot project for bidirectional charging in private households from December 2025, allowing electric vehicles to power home appliances with self-generated solar energy, the company said at the IAA Mobility show. The initiative uses an 11 kW DC wallbox developed with Cubos, designed to comply with calibration standards and integrate with home photovoltaic systems from Otovo. Through Elli’s modular software platform and app, energy flows between the public grid, solar panels, the EV and household devices can be managed. Participation is limited to households with an Otovo PV system and a Volkswagen electric car equipped…

BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle and battery maker, is reinforcing its commitment to Europe with the public unveiling of its Seal 6 DM-i Touring plug-in hybrid at the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich, alongside a display of the Euro NCAP five-star rated Dolphin Surf. The company also announced a new BYD Certified Pre-Owned scheme. Stella Li, BYD Executive Vice President, confirmed that production of the Dolphin Surf, the small electric car sold in China as the Seagull, will start at the company’s new plant in Szeged, Hungary, by the end of 2025. “Europe is a tremendously important market for…

German auto supplier Mahle said on Monday it will roll out high-voltage charging technologies for the global electric vehicle aftermarket starting in 2025, aiming to strengthen its position as a provider of EV components beyond original manufacturing. The company’s first products will include input filters available from October 2025 and onboard chargers by year-end, initially covering models from Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel. “Both components come directly from the original equipment manufacturing of the Mahle Group and fulfil the highest quality standards,” the company said, adding that additional high-voltage parts will follow in 2026. Onboard chargers convert alternating current…

Tesla has added launch control functionality to its Model Y Performance, a move aimed at enhancing the driving experience and acceleration capabilities of the all-electric SUV. While electric vehicles already provide near-instantaneous torque and power, reducing the criticality of launch control compared with traditional combustion-engine cars, the feature allows drivers to optimize traction and power delivery when accelerating from a standstill. The update highlights Tesla’s ongoing strategy of using over-the-air software enhancements to expand vehicle capabilities post-delivery. Launch control in electric vehicles can provide a more engaging driving experience, even though the instantaneous torque of EVs often makes traditional launch…

German charging infrastructure provider Amperfied said it is partnering with software specialist Pionix to address communication issues between electric vehicles, charging stations and backend systems that often lead to interrupted charging sessions. The Heidelberger Druckmaschinen subsidiary announced it will use Pionix’s BaseCamp software as the operating system for its new Amperfied Dynamic DC charging station. BaseCamp is based on EVerest, an open-source framework optimised for industrial use and developed by a global community. “BaseCamp means we don’t have to reinvent each standard component and can focus on the critical points that create added value for operators and users,” said Niklas…

Li Auto reported August deliveries of 28,529 vehicles, down 40.7% from a year earlier, marking its third straight month of sharp declines. Deliveries also slipped 7.2% from July, the company said on Monday. From January to August, the Chinese automaker delivered 263,198 vehicles, an 8.6% year-on-year decrease, bringing total deliveries since its founding to 1.4 million units. Amid the downturn, Li Auto is banking on its upcoming Li i6 electric SUV, priced between RMB 250,000 ($35,040) and RMB 300,000, which is set to launch in September. The company also recently adjusted its Li i8 lineup, cutting variants and lowering prices…

Mülheim-based startup Minerva Carbon, a spin-off from the Max Planck Institute for Coal Research, has received about €1.8 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy’s EXIST program, the company said. The team is developing mesoporous high-performance carbon materials for use in batteries and fuel cells. The material, described as a “high-tech sponge” made of carbon, provides extensive storage space for ions and fast conductivity, enabling faster charging, longer lifespans, and greater stability for batteries. It also offers performance advantages in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, according to the company. “We now have a unique…

EV charging software company Monta has joined ChargeUK, the British trade association for the electric vehicle charging industry, as an Associate Member, the organisations said on Tuesday. Monta, which operates a charging platform with more than half a million users across Europe, said the move highlights its commitment to “open, interoperable and intelligent charging.” The company plans to contribute technical expertise to policy discussions and infrastructure development in the UK. “With less than five years until the 2030 deadline, the UK EV sector is at a pivotal moment. Being part of ChargeUK will allow Monta to collaborate with other members…

Researchers in Australia are developing methods to convert common organic waste, including biosolids from wastewater treatment and household garden debris, into biochar, a charcoal-like substance that could serve as a component for more cost-effective and safer sodium-ion batteries. The collaborative project involves RMIT University, Deakin University, and Barwon Water. While biochar is traditionally used to improve soil quality, the research team is exploring its potential as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. Sodium-ion batteries, which are already considered cheaper alternatives to lithium-ion technology, could become even more affordable if biochar proves suitable for enhancing performance. “Biochar is looking promising as…

Lynk & Co, the Geely-owned automotive brand positioned between Geely Galaxy and Zeekr, has revealed updated versions of its 07 EM-P sedan and 08 EM-P crossover in China. The two plug-in hybrid models, which will debut at the Chengdu Auto Show on August 29, feature roof-mounted LiDAR sensors aimed at enhancing their driver-assistance capabilities. The additions mark a strategic effort by Lynk & Co to strengthen the appeal of its mid- to high-end lineup amid intensifying competition in China’s new energy vehicle market. While the brand currently offers ten models domestically, the 07 EM-P and 08 EM-P have struggled to…

Rivian has posted a job opening for a senior battery role that outlines areas of focus for its future electric vehicle battery packs, including integration methods, charging improvements, and research into alternative chemistries. The listing, for a “Senior Manager, Pack Advanced Materials,” states that the position will involve work on “cell-to-pack, cell-to-chassis, high performance, extremely fast charge (XFC) technology, immersion cooling, beyond Li-ion batteries, etc.” See also: Rivian CEO Sees Faster EV Charging as Key Challenge for Battery Development https://twitter.com/Hilbe/status/1959979732373499938 The details suggest Rivian is examining options to improve efficiency, performance and safety in its vehicles. Cell-to-pack and cell-to-chassis approaches…

Porsche AG said on Monday it will restructure its high-performance battery subsidiary Cellforce, shelving plans to scale up production and instead turning it into an independent research and development unit, citing weaker-than-expected demand for electric vehicles in some key markets. The move marks a shift from Porsche’s original plan to expand Cellforce into a full-scale production operation, including a planned “start-up factory” in Kirchentellinsfurt, Germany. The company said some of the nearly 300 jobs at Cellforce may be transferred to Volkswagen Group’s battery arm PowerCo, while Cellforce’s expertise will also support V4Smart, the battery unit acquired from Varta earlier this…